Griswold shook his head, sympathetically and sighed.  "I understand that you came to me in confidence, Chris, but I have already told you that I cannot do anything by myself, as much as I may want to.  Not without making the situation much, much worse for Farrissa.  If you really want to help her, I'll need help."  He looked emploringly between them both, turned to Wrenn, then leaned forward to whisper to Chris so that Farrissa could not hear.

"There is another issue here.  If Farrissa's talent continues to show, the Ashen Order will become involved.  They don't necessarily deserve their fearful reputation.  Well not always.  Their...determination is generally saved for hunts.  But my friend Wrenn here, has more money than me and is a master of the arcane arts.  That means he may be able to help her control her...gift.  Though, I suppose, we could hand her over to the Ashen Order.  They tend to take a much less severe stance on gifted that give themselves up voluntarily.  It would get her away from Roland and his father at least."

Being more daring, Griswold pulled away from Chris and moved his attention to Farrissa.  She'd yet to speak about any of this and he wanted to know for sure that Chris wasn't doing this out of some misguided sense of chivalry rather than considering the girl's personal feelings on the matter.  "She might even be offered a place at the Tower of the Magi.  Comfortable, safe learning amongst her peers.  If that's what she wants.  What do you want, Farrissa?" He smiled at her.  "Don't be afraid, you're amongst friends."

OOC:
Persuasion:

Roll 1:
10:34, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Persuasion - gaining Farrissa's and Chris' confidence.

Roll 2 (If advantage):
10:34, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  10:34, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Persuasion - gaining Farrissa's and Chris'.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:35, Mon 21 Aug 2017.

Chris looked at Farrissa with a mix of sadness and worry. Turning back to Griswold, and with a sidelong glance at Wrenn, Chris hung his head. "I'm only trying to do what is best for her. I don't know what she wants," he says and doesn't chase down Griswold as he pulls away.

Farrissa, in the meantime, has stopped what she was doing and stared at the gathering. She shies away from Griswold as he approaches but doesn't actively run away. She stares at the ground while he speaks. When Griswold asks her what she wants, she fingers the collar and simply looks at Griswold. Farrissa then glances at Wrenn before turning away and begins to weep, though she make no noise.

Wrenn was saddened by Farrissa's lack of words and the message she conveyed through her actions. He looked at her from where he was, and whispered. [private to dm: casting Message, "Farrissa, I will do all that is in my power to purchase your freedom. I don't know if your lack of speaking is a choice, or a new condition you've found yourself locked into, but there are also spells that can bypass the normal means of communication, even greater than this simple cantrip, if it was stolen from you. Whether you've entered into a pact, be it willingly, forcibly, or through trickery; or if you've stumbled into a gift from the gods, or merely tapped into potential that had been hidden away in your bloodline, I know good and honest people who can help you even beyond my means." The spell is for short messages, so he'd cast and recast as necessary.]

As Wrenn whispered, Farrissa snapped her head towards him with a worried look.

[Private to Wrenn Muernig: As you cast your spells, you feel something very familiar. The spell seems to function, but is being drained and you feel similar to the moment just before you teleported. It is not a backlash of energy, a closer description for you would be conduit and redirection. It is most assuredly coming from her collar.]

Wrenn held up his hands to the girl to show he'd meant no harm nor surprise, then turned to Griswold, "Alright, that's something that could certainly use a little more time for closer inspection. That collar is a thing of magic, it seems. One that interrupts the flow of magic in unnatural ways; not unlike whatever it was that teleported me here in the first place. I think the girl's freedom and safety are our primary concerns, and as I said I am happy to part with all the money I posses to go toward paying off her debt if that is the way we must proceed."

"Unfortunately I have no coin to speak of myself.  I would be willing to sell my chainmail, but I'd rather not part from old Jacoby."  Griswold said looking to Farrissa with pity in his eyes.  "It is possible Brother Sul or Brimir may be able to help."  He truned his attention to Chris. "Though I'll understand if you do not wish me to ask them."

Chris looks hesitantly before nodding. "Not tonight though. After the trial. If we make it through. We have been here too long already," he says and looks at Farrissa. She nods as well and gives a sad smile towards Wrenn and Griswold. Chris leads here away quickly and quietly towards the festival grounds.

The rest of the night finds you and passes uneventfully. You may pass it as you choose.

Griswold nodded and bid the pair farewell, before thanking Wrenn and turning in for the night.  "Stay safe and Farrissa, do your best not to let your gift be seen by that strange observation spell they seem to use during our trials."

"And do not be afraid to call on us for aid, should trouble find you."

The night passes and Kharash, Brother Sul, Griswold and Wrenn find themselves standing in front of the tourney stands. The groups from before stand next to them, the first looking exhausted by all members standing, the local group basking in the glory. Lady Inara stands on a tall pedestal looking out to the crowd. Her voices carries well and soon is the only thing you can hear.

"In the time of the ancient gods, dragons ruled the skies and kingdoms rose and fell at the end of a sword. Legendary quests beckoned with the promise of danger and glory, and only a brave few dared to heed the call. For honor and vengeance they ventured forth with steel and sorcery to combat the merciless legions of darkness. For it was said that those who answered the call were possessed of the warrior spirit, and the blood of the dragon flowed through their veins."

"Good people of the Maypole Festival! You have witnessed these people before you brave a gauntlet of intellect, but being a hero is about more than your mind. The next two tasks are simple, if not exactly easy. The true calling of a hero is to go on a quest and return triumphantly. Your second task is to seek out the Forgotten Tomb in the Greenwood. The third is to return the ancient sword of the hero buried there to me. You have until the end of the festival in five days. Good luck, contestants!"

She finishes with outstretched arms and to a roaring cheer. The other groups begin to look around, the locals in sheer over-stimulation, the other with the predatory gleam of veterans.

Griswold grinned and waved at the crowds, then leaned down to Wrenn.

"Perhaps we could find a map or guide?  Probably not to the tomb itself, of course, but to at least keep our bearings."

"Agreed. I have very little information about this location, myself. The few times I've been here intentionally, I wasn't particularly shopping around for maps so I'm afraid we'll need to ask around for such a thing if you don't know yourself. I don't want to put much money into it, for obvious reason, but it would certainly help. If we can't find a map or a guide, then spoken directions will need to suffice. If we can find even that."

"Maybe some of the locals who cheered us on earlier, and enjoyed your speeches would be able to tell us something? Did you happen to make any friends with those you went out to speak with?"

Brother Sul flushed slightly as the crowds cheered and instead distracted himself with his thoughts as he glanced around. He wasn't sure how this task they were given would see them as a hero. Then again, that could be why he wasn't one yet. "By the light of the Flame, we shall overcome." He whispered to himself with another look to the Lady before turning to the group.

"Well lads? What say you we find someone who knows anything more of this forgotten tomb, or selling a map of the area?"

---

Casting Guidance and checking my knowledge of such.
History of the Forgotten Tomb: 20
09:42, Today: Brother Sul rolled 19,1 using 1d20+4,1d4.  History of the Forgotten Tomb (Guidance).

[Private to GM: Sul doesn't like the idea of defiling the tomb of a hero. But perhaps since it was forgotten, then its about rediscovering the reason the hero was called such? Or maybe some grander purpose within the God's schemes?
Insight: 15 (+4 from guidance if i notice something)
09:42, Today: Secret Roll: Brother Sul rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Insight on Lady Inara and this quest.
09:49, Today: Secret Roll: Brother Sul rolled 4 using 1d4.  Guidance for Insight if needed.]

Kharash nods silently at the suggestions of finding a map or guide. He makes the comment that he is not familiar enough with the subject to be of much use. The crowds in the stands remain, as the joust and melee tourneys will begin today and last until the end of the festival. The last will see each champion crowned and one of the groups return triumphantly.

Brother Sul's memory is foggy, but there is mention in several early histories of the Krieghold Empire with the Greenwood being protected by knights of the Delian Order. They were one of the first orders founded in Krieghold and vowed to rid the lands of the goblin warbands of the time. The last, and only, stronghold they had was an abbey somewhere in the forest.

[Private to Brother Sul: Your Insight tells you that she might be selling the entire thing a little softly. In fact, you are certain that she is leaving out something important.]

"So we're in agreement then.  Wonderful!  Let's start with the merchants.  I want to sell this chain mail anyway, buy some leather.  Hopefully raise some coin."  Griswold fetches Jacoby and heads towards the market.

OOC assuming Griswold can sell chain mail at 1/2 cost he would get 37gold and 5 silver and spend 10 of that on leather.

"While your at it, see if the merchants have a map of the Greenwood or anything on the Delian Order's Abbey." The acolyte said as Griswold made to leave. "If i'm right, that might be a good place to start. I must speak with the Lady a moment. Shall we meet on the road in an hour?"

With an agreed upon time to meet, the grizzled man moved to catch up to Inara before she left. "May i have a word with you? As a man of faith, the idea of disturbing the dead, much less a hero, forgotten or not, does not sit well with me. Alas, i understand if it is needed. Perhaps there is something you can tell me about any rights we should perform and obstacles we might face doing this? Anything important?" The man of faith questioned with a slight bow of his head.

---

Thick forest? Would mounts be prefered/useful?

Lady Inara gave a wry smile to Brother Sul. "Who said anything about disturbing the dead?", she said with a chuckle.

OOC: Griswold- Give me a Charisma based check against DC16 (your choice of skill, but make it appropriate IC) and you can find plenty willing to buy proven armor at full price, otherwise you easily sell it at half. To find a trustworthy map or guide will take a different check to decern it from frauds and fakes.

Griswold moved from vendor to vendor, a polite smile on his face as he perused the merchandise on sale.   He took time to study the many different items on sale, often picking them up, turning them over and complimenting the shopkeep on their quality.  Though he had little real interest in most of it, he still took the time to ingratiate himself with the merchants and inquire after the items he really sought: a buyer for his armour and any useful information on navigating the Greenwood, especially to the abbey Brother Sul had mentioned.

He spoke with them a length when able, though not if it meant putting their other potential customers off, being as charming as he could, whilst probing them for information.  He also tried to keep an eye out for competitors from the other groups, interested in whether any had similar ideas or where perhaps following him, though that was secondary to his true purpose.

17:30, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Persuasion - Selling armour.

He did find a buyer for his armour, though not for any great amount.  It was quickly replaced with a cheap, but functional suit of leather armour from the same vendor.

17:31, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 17 using 2d20+2, dropping the lowest dice only.  Investigation (with Inspiration) - finding information/a guide.

17:32, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 3 using 1d20-1.  Perception - spotting other contestants.

Changes to character sheet:
-Chainmail Armour
+Leather Armour
Gold: 8 +25 -6 +37.5 -10 = 54.5
New AC = 11 +3 +2 +1 = 17

This message was last edited by the player at 16:55, Tue 05 Sept 2017.

The acolyte blinked in confusion. "Your not suggesting the forgotten tomb be filled with the living, are ya?" he asked incredulously. It was more than likely he thought, that the Abbey then was lost in a battle of some kind and thus little was known of the hero.
He rubbed his medallion between his finger and thumb before continuing on."Perhaps then, some more information on what this is about or how to tell the weapon apart from others would help? It is best to get as much information as possible before venturing on such quests after all?" he tried his best to persuade the lady, but he was oft better at just trusting his hunches than convincing others.

---

09:30, Today: Brother Sul rolled 4 using 1d20+1+1d4.  Cha check with guidance

Lady Inara give no more information, citing neutrality and impartiality. Griswold is able to discover a local hunter by the name of Gammon that is eager to help the group. He says that the only real place of note is a set of dilapidated ruins of an old watch tower in the heart of the Greenwood. Locals how venture in use the ruins as a waypoint and shelter during expeditions. He mentions nothing bout the abbey and if asked doesn't know of any such place in the forest. He does say that many vendors should be avoided if they are selling "treasure maps" to any place in the wood. Only the locals know that area well enough.

Griswold nods along as the scout, hunter, guide, whatever he considered himself, spoke.  The half-elf only paid half-a-mind to the man's stories about shoddy maps.  It was normal mercantile tactics - put down the competition to get your own services sold.  So he just nodded along with a big grin on his face.  As soon as the man mentioned the broken down tower however, Griswold's attention was caught and before the local could finish, he had one arm embracing the forester and the other shaking his hand.

"Good!  yes, excellent, you fantastic man, you.  And how much would your undoubtedly unparalleled woodland skills and knowledge cost?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:11, Fri 22 Sept 2017.

Wrenn watched the interaction, trying to gauge the man's authenticity.


Insight 20
23:03, Today: Wrenn Muernig rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Insight.

The clergy man nodded his thanks and watched the lady walk off before turning and heading towards whatever he could find that resembled a library of some sort before the meeting time. There was obviously more going on than what they were told, but that could just be part of the test. So instead, he focused on what he could do. A bit of reading up might bring to light some clue as to what they were dealing with. After all, we wouldn't be disturbing the dead...

---

Gonna try and find a library or record hall of some sort and do a quick skim of what i can find out of the Delian Order or the abbey that might be of use.
[Private to GM: Passive investigation 21]

The man smiles and returns the embrace. "For an aspiring squire and contestant? Ten gold, plus an even share of whatever you find in the tomb. Quite the deal!" Wrenn thinks the man is honest in his skill and is now playing the part of the businessman. You are getting the sense that he is likely a skilled trader, as well as huntsman.

Brother Sul is able to track down the ledgers of the Dragon and the Unicorn. The old inn has kept meticulous records and stored them in the town repository for the festival. While most of it is mundane, a separate book of noteworthy visitors is kept. In this book you are able to find reference to a knight, last of the Delian Order, on a final quest to find the abbey at the center of the forest. No other useful information is given.

Griswold hesitates for a moment, this money was meant for someone else.  He quickly regains his composure.  Striking a theatrical pose with his legs tight together, back straight, one arm behind him, the other upturned gesturing to the air, he strust back and forth talking very exaggeratedly.

"Hah!  You, my good man are truly wily.  Shrewd, in fact!  But, allow me a counter offer, if you will.  After all, ancient tombs aren't known to be the most accommodating of places.  Highly volatile for visitors, in fact.

"It will be my friends and I risking life and limb therein, while you remain safely at our backs. Your sole task having been to get us there.  Yet you ask for payment and an equal share?  That would put your reward well above ours!  The ones hiring you!
 No, say I.  To agree to such would be daylight robbery!

"I think is fair that you shall either work with us, or for us - not both.  My proposal is therefore that you get either fifteen gold total for the journey, or one half-share of whatever we find, subject to a...ten gold minimum.  Surely as generous an offer as you'll ever receive.  What say you?"

Griswold grabs his coin purse and rattles the coin within.

OOC
Persuasion check: 12
Griswold is open to a counter-offer.  Haggling!
This message was last edited by the player at 02:47, Thu 28 Sept 2017.